College is what one makes of it

By Scott Deininger
SPECIAL TO THE HERALD NEWS

It's that time again. Time to figure out what to do after graduating high school.

For some, college is the only option. For others, formal schooling has been completed. And still others aren't sure what to do but are willing to search for it.

I was there. I didn't know where my abilities or studies would take me. I had the dream of attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. But when I saw that money didn't grow on the trees in my yard and that my SAT score was laughable to a group of fifth-graders, I opted against that dream. I did get a tattoo of the UNC mascot, however.

It wasn't the degree or the college experience that I would've cherished, but it was a commitment fulfilled nonetheless. Now don't get me started on how the school changed the look of the mascot a year later.

There was never the pressure or even the guidance of family members when it came to college. The ultimate decision was left up to me. I knew I still wanted to learn more and figure out what life had to offer even after the college years.

With my ever-present indecisiveness rearing its ugly head, I opted for Joliet Junior College. Community colleges often get a bad rap because, as a comic I worked with once said, "community colleges are simply high schools with ashtrays."

In reality, JJC, like anything in life, is whatever you make of it. I was able to make something great of it because I was active throughout the school. It quickly became my home away from home complete with the best parking spot this side of Air Force One.

JJC gave me the same academic opportunities as friends of mine were getting but for far less money. I was able to work near home and still make the grades, all while getting a better idea of what I was going to do with the rest of my life.

I had always enjoyed sports, whether it was playing them or reading about them. At JJC, I landed a job writing about them and eventually became the sports editor of the school's student newspaper, The Blazer. A trip with the national championship men's basketball team in the winter one year saw me drive with the team to Florida. That was my first taste of journalism on the road.

An associate degree is usually received in two years at a community college. I was still a bit uncertain of my next venture, so I opted for a third year, a victory lap, as another comedian, Paul Gilmartin, once said.

Being involved in the student affairs department gave me the opportunity to open yet another chapter in my JJC experience.

That third year saw me serve as student trustee to the JJC board of trustees. It was a position where I sat in on monthly board meetings to discuss and vote on things from tuition increases to professor tenures to dropping "Junior" from the school's name because a professor thought "Junior" was negative and demoralizing. I found that more laughable than my SAT scores.

The position of student trustee also afforded me the opportunity to travel to Seattle and Washington, D.C., to represent JJC on a national level. I further developed important leadership skills while also fostering new relationships with peers from all over the country.

So there I was, writing for the paper, working at a restaurant and somewhat serving as the student-body president. For all you "Beverly Hills 90210" fans, I was essentially the Brandon Walsh of JJC, minus the convertible, good looks and bowling shirt. So I guess I was nothing like Brandon now that I look back at it.

What I'm getting at is that you'll get out of JJC what you put into it. Maybe you're not really sure that a big university is for you or you don't want to commit to loans at a school you might not like. There's nothing wrong with taking some time to think things through and get a better grasp on reality and where you fit in it.

Whether you go to a small California college or a famed Ivy League school, remember that working harder and smarter are the keys.

Joliet Junior College can serve as a springboard to great things and open doors you never knew existed. When I enrolled at JJC, if you told me I would be a sports editor and student trustee while working alongside the school's president and other esteemed academic and administrative staff, I would've said you were out of your mind. I had no idea that so many great people and opportunities were available at JJC.

If you don't go and give yourself the chance, you'll never know either.

 

Scott Deininger is a standup comedian from Shorewood. More of his work can be found via his Web site, www.ShaveYourHead.com

04/27/03